Defined removal site on sterile blister pack

ABSTRACT

A system and method for systematic, controlled removal of sterile products from blister packs for use during surgery is disclosed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for systematic,controlled removal of sterile products from blister packs for use duringeye surgery.

BACKGROUND

During eye surgery, such as refractive surgery, sterile products areoften provided in blister packs. These products of have sensitivesurfaces, such as a lens.

Currently, a non-sterile user, such as the operating room nurse, opensthe blister pack. The outside of the blister pack is not sterile andmust be touched to open the closed blister pack. Then, non-sterile usermust perform hand disinfection before removing items from the openedblister pack. This complicates and lengthens the surgical procedure andmakes accidental contamination and loss of sterility more likely.

SUMMARY

This disclosure provides a way to allow removal of the sterile itemswith sensitive surfaces from the blister pack without requiring thenon-sterile user to perform hand disinfection.

In one embodiment, the disclosure relates to a method of using a blisterpack with sterile products inside, removing the protective layer fromthe blister pack, inverting the blister pack, placing the blister packon a sterile surface, pressing on at least one defined pressure point onthe back of the blister pack, and removing the blister pack.

In another embodiment, the disclosure relates to a method of using ablister pack with sterile products inside, removing the protective layerfrom the blister pack, inverting the blister pack, placing the blisterpack on a sterile surface, removing a removable lug from at least onedefined point on the back of the blister pack, and removing the blisterpack.

In another embodiment, the disclosure relates to a blister back with asterile holding area, a sterile eye surgery instrument, and at least onepoint marked on the back of the back of the blister pack for controlledremoval of the sterile eye surgery instrument.

Other technical advantages will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art in view of the following specification, claims, and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the present invention and itsfeatures and advantages, reference is now made to the followingdescription, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a not-to-scale schematic view of the front of a blister packwith two sterile eye surgery instruments and defined pressure points;

FIG. 2 is a not-to-scale schematic view of the back of the blister packof FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the front of a blister pack with definedpressure points;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the back of the blister pack of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is flow chart of a method for using a blister pack with definedpressure points.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

This disclosure provides a way to allow removal of the sterile itemswith sensitive surfaces from the blister pack without requiring thenon-sterile user to perform hand disinfection. This disclosure providesa blister pack with defined pressure points and methods of its use.

In the following description, details are set forth by way of example tofacilitate discussion of the disclosed subject matter. It should beapparent to a person of ordinary skill in the field, however, that thedisclosed embodiments are exemplary and not exhaustive of all possibleembodiments.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 are blister pack 100.In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the front 110 of a blister pack 100includes two sterile holding areas 120, 130. Each sterile holding areais shown with a single sterile eye surgery instrument (e.g. sterile eyesurgery instrument 122, sterile eye surgery instrument 132). Blisterpacks with a single sterile holding area are also possible. More thanthe one sterile eye surgery instrument may be placed in a single sterileholding area. In the embodiment show in FIG. 2, the back 190 of blisterpack 100 is shown. The location of sterile holding areas 120 and 130 andpressure points 140, 150, 160, and 170 are shown. Pressure points 140,150, 160, and 170 are located within the sterile holding areas 120 and130.

Non-limiting examples of sterile eye surgery instruments that could beused during eye surgery, such as refractive surgery, is an applanationcone or a lens.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, as shown, are actually marked with a circled “X” atpressure points 140, 150, 160, and 170. Such markings are optional forany or all pressure points 140, 150, 160, and 170, and if marked, otherindicators may be used such as an “X” mark or an embossed word, e.g.“push.” Optionally, pressure points 140, 150, 160, and 170 are marked onthe rear surface 190 of blister pack 100 and not on the front surface110. If the blister pack requires that the pressure points be pressed ina particular order or in particular combinations, then the blister packwill be so marked.

The invention does not require the rear surface 190 of blister pack 100to be sterile.

Pressure points are placed to avoid sensitive spots or brittle spots onthe sterile eye surgery instruments. In the case of a package designwith simple sterile barriers, the absence of such defined pressurepoints means an increased risk of damage, especially to sensitivesurfaces during removal of the sterile eye surgery instrument. Byallowing controlled removal of the sterile eye surgery instrument usingthe pressure points, the sterile eye surgery instrument should drop outat a controlled time and in a controlled manner.

In another embodiment, not shown, blister pack 100 may include movablelugs instead of any one or more of the pressure points. The movable lugsare designed to keep the inside of blister pack 100 sterile when theyare moved, e.g. actuated, removed, moved, or unscrewed.

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the front of a blister pack 200 withdefined pressure points. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the front210 of a blister pack 200 includes two sterile holding areas 220, 230.Each sterile holding area is shown with a single sterile eye surgeryinstrument (e.g. sterile eye surgery instrument 222, sterile eye surgeryinstrument 232). Blister packs with a single sterile holding area arealso possible. More than one sterile eye surgery instruments may beplaced in a single sterile holding area. The location of sterile holdingareas 220 and 230 and pressure points 240, 250, and 260 are shown.

FIG. 4 is an elevation view of the back of the blister pack 200 withdefined pressure points. In the embodiment show in FIG. 4, the back 290of blister pack 200 is shown. The location of sterile holding areas 220and 230 and pressure points 240, 250, and 260, are shown. Pressurepoints 240, 250, and 260, are located near the sterile holding areas 220and 230.

FIG. 5 is flow chart of a method of using a blister pack with definedremoval sites, such as blister pack 100.

In this embodiment, operating room (OR) preparation or an eye surgeryprocedure is begun, 302.

A protective cover is removed from the blister pack, 304.

Then the blister pack is inverted onto a sterile surface, 306. It isimportant to maintain the surface and the inside of the blister pack asboth sterile.

Next, at least one and likely all pressure points are pressed, 308. Ifthe blister pack requires that the pressure points be pressed in aparticular order or in particular combinations, then the blister packwill be so marked. In another embodiment, the pressure points areremovable lugs that are removed at this step.

Finally, the blister pack is removed from the sterile surface, 310.

The above disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, andnot restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications, enhancements, and other embodiments which fall within thetrue spirit and scope of the present disclosure. Thus, to the maximumextent allowed by law, the scope of the present disclosure is to bedetermined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the followingclaims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited bythe foregoing detailed description. For instance, many exampleembodiments herein are depicted and described using a blister pack. Itwill be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that a variety oftypes of sterile eye surgery instruments, may be used in suchembodiments with corresponding increases in the complexity of blisterpack design.

1.-10. (canceled)
 11. A method for removing a sterile eye surgeryinstrument from a blister pack comprising: removing the protective layerfrom the blister pack; inverting the blister pack; placing the blisterpack on a sterile surface; applying pressure to at least one definedpressure point on the back of the blister pack; and removing the blisterpack while the eye surgery instrument is still sterile.
 12. The methodof claim 11, wherein the sterile eye surgery instrument is a lens. 13.The method of claim 11, wherein the pressure point is marked.
 14. Themethod of claim 13, wherein the step of applying pressure to at leastone defined pressure point on the back of the blister pack comprises:pressing a first pressure point marked to indicate it should be usedfirst; and pressing a second pressure point marked to indicate it shouldbe used second.
 15. The method of claim 11, wherein the pressure pointis a movable lug.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein applying pressureto at least one defined pressure point on the back of the blister packcomprises pulling on the lug.
 17. The method of claim 15, whereinapplying pressure to at least one defined pressure point on the back ofthe blister pack comprises unscrewing the lug.
 18. The method of claim15, wherein applying pressure to at least one defined pressure point onthe back of the blister pack comprises actuating the lug.
 19. The methodof claim 15, wherein the sterile eye surgery instrument is a lens. 20.The method of claim 15, wherein the step of applying pressure to atleast one defined pressure point on the back of the blister packcomprises: moving a first lug marked to indicate it should be usedfirst; moving a second lug marked to indicate it should be used second.